For the period of Friday March 20, 2009 to Thursday March 26, 2009 the Niagara Falls Fire Department responded to 112 calls for assistance.
Friday March 20 - Just after 9 AM calls began pouring in to Central Alarm indicating a structure fire in the 800 block of 17th Street. Initial arriving units reported heavy smoke coming from a 2 ½ story frame dwelling and bystanders reported that all of the occupants were out of the home. Hoselines were stretched into the building and most of the fire appeared to be concentrated on the second floor in the rear of the building. Ladders were deployed to multiple windows to provide firefighters with an alternative means of egress as well as to assist in ventilation efforts. The fire was under control in about 15 minutes but not before extensive fire damage was done to multiple rooms on the second floor. The first floor living area sustained significant water damage due to firefighting operations. Three residents of the dwelling were transported to the hospital with minor injuries. The cause of the fire has been determined to be children playing with a lighter igniting nearby combustible material. The Red Cross provided assistance to the displaced occupants.
Saturday March 21 – A commercial occupancy in the 300 block of 3rd street was the scene of an elevator rescue. At 9:32 PM Central Alarm received a distress call indicating multiple people trapped in an elevator. Firefighters arrived and secured the power to the elevator and began the process of gaining access to the elevator car. The individuals trapped in the elevator car indicated that some of them were beginning to suffer from a variety of medical issues and an ambulance was requested. The individuals were able to be removed from the elevator and were evaluated. One patient was eventually transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The elevator was placed out of service and the manager of the facility was instructed to arrange for a qualified mechanic to service the elevator.
Sunday March 22 – The Echota neighborhood was the scene of an early morning blaze that originated in a vacant building just before 4:30 AM. Firefighters from the Royal Avenue station arrived on the scene and reported extensive fire coming from the structure. Firefighters stretched hoselines into the building while other firefighters began the process of opening up the structure. Heavy smoke filled the street as firefighters pushed into the building to control the blaze. As firefighters were on the scene of this fire, another fire was reported just down the street. Both of these fires are considered to be related and appear to be the work of an arsonist. Members of the Fire Prevention Bureau as well as detectives of the NFPD continue to investigate.
Sunday March 22 – Thick black smoke filled the 1900 block of LaSalle Avenue at 2:30 PM. A fast spreading fire threatened not only the original fire building but the two adjacent homes as well. Firefighters used mutiple hoselines as well as heavy caliber fire streams to gain control of the blaze. Conditions in the original fire build had deteriorated to the point that at one time firefighters were forced to attack the fire from the outside. Firefighters operated on both LaSalle Avenue as well as the alley behind the involved buildings. The fire building sustained heavy damage with both of the exposures sustaining damage to the exterior. Once again this fire originated due to children playing with matches. Mutual Aid was provided by Niagara County to fill vacant city fire stations.
Tuesday March 24 – The intersection of 56th and Frontier was the scene of a major water main break. While the break occurred around 9:30 PM on the 23rd, firefighters were called shortly after 1 AM to assist in determine the extent of the problem and facilitate any needed evacuations. Firefighters went door to door checking the welfare of the residents. Gas service to the affected homes was shut off as rapidly rising water filled the basements of nearby homes. The break resulted in water service being affected to a large part of the city. Due to concern over the availability of water for firefighting use, water tankers were brought in from rural Niagara County.
